NAHB to Sue EPA Over Lead-Paint Regulations

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a coalition of housing industry groups recently announced plans to file a lawsuit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for removing the "opt-out" provision from its Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule (LRRP). The rule applies to homes constructed before 1978 when lead paint was banned. Its opt-out provision, which expired July 6, let consumers allow contractors to bypass extra preparation, clean-up, and recordkeeping requirements in homes where there were no children under age 6 or pregnant women, thus avoiding additional costs.

The group will challenge EPA's action on the grounds that the agency substantially amended its LRRP regulation without any new scientific data and before the regulation was put into place April 22, 2010.

Remodelers' and other contractors' estimates of the additional costs associated with the lead-safe work practices average about $2,400, but vary according to the size and type of job.

Source: National Association of Home Builders